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[survivaltricks]

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[survivaltricks]

[. . . ah. . .]

sure. how about our usual place?

[and for a moment, he thinks it's pretty cool that they even have one of those]

[messianic]

[... it makes Minato smile a little to himself too.]

Yeah, that sounds perfect. I'll see you there.

Thanks, Akira.

[survivaltricks]

okay. see you soon.

[and, as promised! Akira is waiting in the pool hall when Minato arrives, bent over a pool table as he plays a game by himself, dressed in the pirate getup + the red jacket Minato picked out for him the other day]

[messianic]

[Minato's in the renaissance-esque outfit that Akira helped him pick out before, Evoker tucked in the waistband of his pants.

When he steps in, he pauses... to

admire

Akira bent over the pool table.

Listen, he's pretty.

But then he catches himself, shaking his head and moving in further.]

[survivaltricks]

[WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS WHERE AKIRA CAN'T SEE, MINATO!! DAMN IT!!!]

[but it's after Minato steps into the pool hall that Akira notices he isn't alone, and he straightens to greet his friend with the pool cue held in one hand]

Do you want to talk over a game?

[he nods in the direction of the pool table]

[messianic]

[yeah he sucks.

Anyway, Minato just tilts his head, before he nods a little and goes to fetch a pool stick.]

Okay, sure. You're used to putting up with me not being very good at these games.

[survivaltricks]

[a small laugh]

You're not as bad as you think you are. Besides, we were all beginners.

[gathering up the billiards balls to set them up for a new game]

[messianic]

Thanks for preserving my ego.

[Minato just sounds amused more than anything, though. He'll just lean on his pool stick and wait for Akira to set everything up, because Akira knows what he's doing.]

[survivaltricks]

Don't worry. I've got your back.

[he says evenly as he sets up the stack of billiards balls. and voila!! he's done!! care to break the triangle, Minato?]

[messianic]

[He will gladly! When it is clear that Akira is letting him have the first go, he carefully lines up his pool stick and...!!

Assuming that Akira helped him with the basics last time they played, he hits cleanly!

And breaks the triangle, but no balls go into any holes.]

[survivaltricks]

[Akira did help him, so! work on that form, Minato! Akira makes a slightly impressed noise, before lining himself up to take the next shot]

What did you want to talk about, by the way?

[messianic]

[...]

Anything, really. I just...

[... he makes a bit of a face.]

This "task" really, really sucks.

[survivaltricks]

[ah. . . he sees. there's a pause as Akira leans over the pool table, cue poised and ready to shoot, even though he doesn't do so quite yet]

. . .

You wanted to get your mind off of things, huh?

[messianic]

Yeah.

[... he closes his eyes, shoulders slumping.]

No matter what we do with this one... people are going to get hurt.

[survivaltricks]

[it's the first time Akira has talked openly about the game, if only because-- well. . . the whole "Fran" thing had been more important at the time, hadn't it]

[he's quiet for a moment as he finally takes his shot, sinking a striped ball in one of the corner pockets]

. . .

Leaves a bad taste in your mouth, doesn't it?

[messianic]

[It does a lot more than that--but Minato knows Akira feels it too.]

... Yeah. We've all been trying to come up with something to do--some way to keep people from being punished.

But the rules are pretty explicit.

[survivaltricks]

[slowly moving to the other side of the table, preparing another shot for himself. for a moment. . . his expression flickers into something more distasteful, more visibly frustrated, before he schools it back into neutrality. not today, Akira!!]

[. . .]

What is Cerberus going to do?

[messianic]

[......

Minato pauses for a long moment, and then his gaze shifts down to the pool table.]

I think we'll be able to come to a consensus on who to protect.

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[turns to face Minato, chin lifting a bit]

. . . that's not what I meant.

[messianic]

[...]

I don't... think Cerberus...

[... A faint frown.]

I think we'll be okay, no matter what happens. We're just trying to decide what we can live with, that's all.

how did i miss this notif

[survivaltricks]

[his expression softens]

It really sucks, when circumstances force you to operate within boxes you'd rather burst wide open. Doesn't it?

[he is fully sympathetic, here. speaking as a man of experience]

What is it that you think you can live with, Minato?

how dare you

[messianic]

[... He closes his eyes for a moment.]

... I don't think... I can handle hurting other people. Even... if it's just by omission, like this.

[survivaltricks]

[a deep inhale and exhale]

You know that no matter what happens, it won't be your fault. Right?

[messianic]

... Yeah.

[He huffs out a faint noise at that.]

It'd be pretty arrogant to think that, I know.

... But it still feels like I should be able to do something.

[survivaltricks]

[another exhale]

Yeah.

[he's leaning his hands and chin against his pool cue now, the butt of same propped up against the ground]

It's more. . . powerlessness.